Car Camping for Beginners
Beginners can ease into the outdoors with car camping. Car camping allows you to haul your favorite creature comforts – coolers, lawn chairs, lanterns, board games, fishing poles, toys, etc., and pitch your tent right next to your car. Try car camping at one of these great campgrounds:
Newhalem Campground
Washington
This comfortable campground is close to the town of Newhalem, Washington and the Skagit River, which provides critical habitat for all species of Pacific salmon. The forest surrounds the campground and offers seclusion, yet the town and all its amenities are only a short walk away. The campground also offers salmon viewing stations and access to many hiking trails.
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Hyatt Lake Campground
Oregon
Hyatt Lake is within the “amazing treasure” of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The main campground at Hyatt Lake includes access to two boat ramps and dock facilities, fish cleaning station, sand volleyball court, basketball practice court, horseshoe pits, and a children's playground. The campground even provides horseshoes, volleyballs, and basketballs.
Summerdale Campground
California
Summerdale Campground is located just over one mile from Yosemite National Park, and sits in a scenic wildflower-filled meadow, surrounded by fir, cottonwood and cedar trees. The campground's proximity to Yosemite, the excellent fishing at Big Creek and the cooler summer temperatures make it a very popular destination for camping veterans and greenhorns alike.
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Cave Spring Campground
Arizona
Set in shaded Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona, Cave Spring Campground is surrounded by red sandstone walls and has its own creek. Kids will love the natural sandstone waterslide at Slide Rock State Park about five miles down the road. Scenic vistas beckon hikers to nearby trails and birding and fishing along Oak Creek near the campground are popular activities for everyone.
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Boulder Beach Campground
Nevada
You’ll find more than 100 palm-studded campsites near Lake Mead’s shores. Try an October visit when the water is still warm enough to swim and the days are still long enough to hike. Families will enjoy the Historic Railroad Trail tunnels. NOTE: Camp sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no reservations.
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Sleepy Grass Campground
New Mexico
The grass and pine meadow feels secluded and cool at 8,800 feet. But it’s just one mile from the amenities of the town of Cloudcroft. Try Trail 5661 for spectacular views across White Sands National Monument. NOTE: Campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no reservations.
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Pinyon Flats Campground
Colorado
Pinyon Flats Campground is located in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, an excellent spot to have a fun and unforgettable experience. You can run up and then slide, roll or tumble down the dunes or jump into nearby Medano Creek to cool off (seasonally).
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Maple Grove Campground
Utah
The campground sits beneath towering red cliffs and offers scenic views of the valley below. Thick stands of maple, cottonwood, box elder, oak and pine provide plentiful shade. The over three mile Rock Canyon Trail begins in the campground and leads to the top of the Pahvant Range. Younger campers love fishing for rainbow trout in gentle Ivie Creek.
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Deadwood Lookout Recreation Cabin
Idaho
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to camp in a fire lookout tower? This cabin is perched 8,200 feet atop Deadwood Mountain and has no water or electricity. Car camping here won’t even require a tent, but it will require a high clearance vehicle that carries everything else you need. This popular site promises unobstructed views of the sunrise, elk, deer, bear or even moose. Hikers and mountain bikers have access to three nearby trails.
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Highland Ridge Campground
Wisconsin
Highland Ridge overlooks sparkling Eau Galle Lake about 60 miles east of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The campground sits next to a lake that boasts boating, canoeing, a playground, and year-round fishing. Hikers enjoy many interpretive trails like the Ox Trail to the Northwest Day Use Area which features a swimming beach, picnic shelters, volleyball nets, and a large, grassy area ideal for soccer or football.
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